viii
While you work, periodically touch an u npainted met a l sur face on the comp uter
chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
When y ou dis conne ct a ca ble, pul l on its co nnecto r or on it s strain -relief loop, not
on the cable itself . Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are dis-
connec tin g this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconn ec ting
the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bend-
ing any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure both
connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
Handle components and cards with care. Don’t touch the components or con-
tacts on a card . Ho ld a ca rd by its ed ges or by its metal mounting bracket. H ol d a
component such as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins.

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Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent
static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of
your computer’s electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so
by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.
As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal
surface to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.
You can a lso tak e the following ste ps to pr ev ent da ma ge from el ect r ostatic discharge
(ESD):
When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not
remo v e the co mpone nt from the a ntistatic packing materi al until y ou are re ady to
install the component in your computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic
packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body.
When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container
or packaging.
Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic
floor pads and w orkbench pads.